The effect of housing system and broiler breed on meat quality¹

This study investigated the effects of the silvopastoral (SP) rearing system compared with a conventional (CV) indoor system, along with the influence of broiler breed (fast-growing, FAST vs. slow-growing, SLOW), on carcass traits (yields), meat quality, myopathy incidence, fatty acid profile, oxidative stability (TBARS), and sensory attributes. A 2 × 2 factorial design was conducted, using 250 birds per treatment, with 5 replicate pens (50 birds/pen). For data collection, 10 birds were selected from each pen for processing, giving a total of 5 replicates and 50 samples per treatment. FAST consistently exhibited superior carcass and breast yields, while SLOW had minimal breast muscle myopathies, regardless of the system. Several physicochemical traits were primarily influenced by the breed, with SLOW's breast exhibiting a greater content of connective tissue and shear force. In comparison, FAST exhibited greater moisture content. The housing system influenced lipid composition and oxidative stability, with SP meat exhibiting lower saturated fatty acid content than CV (40.16% vs. 42.04%) and reduced TBARS values (1.50 vs. 1.59 mg MDA/kg). However, the effect of SP on FAST was limited, as cooking loss did not differ between SP and CV systems (30.91% vs. 32.76%). Sensory results showed minimal differences; meat from CV birds was rated slightly juicier, while SLOW's meat was described as chewier and gummier. Overall, trade-offs were identified between yield performance and meat quality; meat from fast-growing birds had greater production efficiency but exhibited a greater incidence of muscular abnormalities. SP production demonstrated the potential to enhance certain meat quality traits without compromising sensory acceptance, albeit at a lower yield expense.